Review: 'No Man's Land' is a border thriller that takes an intriguing turn into a redemption drama

Like the Rio Grande that’s a central feature of the story, director Conor Allyn’s “No Man’s Land” has some twists and turns in it, delivering more emotional weight than first impressions would suggest.

The title refers to a stretch of real estate along the Rio Grande, between the river and the U.S. border fence. It’s an area where migrants cross over into the States from Mexico. It’s also where the Greer family runs a small cattle ranch, and deals with migrants walking through their land and disturbing the cattle.

Bill Greer (Frank Grillo) and his wife, Monica (Andie MacDowell), try to keep the ranch financially afloat, aided by their sons, Lucas (Alex MacNicoll) and Jackson (Jake Allyn, who co-wrote the script with David Barraza). Jackson has a way out of ranch life: A 92 mph fastball and a chance to join the Yankees’ AA farm team.

On the other side of the river, Gustavo (Jorge A. Jimenez), who has the nickname “Shepherd” because of his faith, is trying to get his 11-year-old son, Fernando (Alessio Valentini), over the border.

One night, the two families have an encounter, as Bill and Lucas try to retrieve some wayward cattle, and find Gustavo’s group trying to traverse the desert. One kid with Gustavo’s group pulls a knife, there’s a struggle for Bill’s rifle — and Jackson unexpectedly ends up in the middle of it. When the dust has settled, Lucas has been shot in the gut, and Jake has killed little Fernando.

One might think this is the jumping-off point for a revenge thriller, a kill-or-be-killed struggle between Jake and Gustavo. Instead, something more interesting happens: Jake rides off into Mexico, toward the city of Guanajuato, in an effort to find Gustavo and atone for what he’s done.

Jake’s journey is a rough one, across the Mexican desert. He finds help along the way, working as a laborer for a prosperous rancher (Juan Carlos Remolina). And he experiences Mexico, learning that the bigoted information he inherited from Bill is not accurate. Jake also has a violent thug, Luis (Andrés Delgado), and a Texas Ranger, Ramirez (George Lopez), on his trail.

Some of the characterizations, particularly of Jake and the family who takes him in, are well-drawn and compelling — people with whom you’d like to sit around a big dinner table and just talk all night. Alas, other characters, like the nasty Luis, are cardboard cutouts of humanity, repositories for every screenwriting cliche that comes to mind.

The Allyn’s have a lot working for them: A strong cast, a good sense of storytelling, and an eye for rugged landscapes. “No Man’s Land” doesn’t pretend it’s solving the problems along the U.S./Mexico border, but it gives all sides a chance to be heard, which is enough.

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‘No Man’s Land’

★★★

Opens Friday, January 22, in theaters where open. Rated PG-13 for some strong violence and language. Running time: 115 minutes.